Lost and Found

Brad and I kite for most of the day looking for something that we lost around the Monomoy islands. Our common sense. We had hatched a plan to explore South Monomoy Island further upwind than either of us has been before but the wind is too light. Rather than acknowledge that reality we limp upwind for hours, making progress only in the gusts. Gourmet Picnic on South Beach After making it up to the beginning of South Monomy, Brad finally comes to his senses, says "see ya",  and makes a beeline for the 4 miles back to Hardings Beach. That's when the wind picks up. Yeah, the joke is on us. But I can't be too upset. It's still a beautiful day on the water. I kite up to Minimoy Island and stop to gaze upwind. From here, I can barely make out the Monomoy lighthouse and the far upwind end of South Monomoy. Damn that's far. A little voice in my head whispers that the kiting there won't be any better there than it is here. I don't listen to whispery little voices. A big voice says that I'll be back when the wind is better. Whatever I'm looking for, it might be up there. Kitesurfed, Hardings to Minimoy, WSW, SW, 10-20, 12M Rally/Mako150, with Brad.

Sailing in the Mist

Sailing Adventure- Old friend Chris and I sail from Savin Hill Yacht Club, Boston, to Scituate Harbor. Lotsa fun! We stay overnight, then hitch a ride back from Sea Tow the next day due to dead wind and a dying motor. Sailing has all the adventure of kiting without so much of the adrenaline.  Although Chris might have felt some adrenaline when his motor started to overheat and lose power on the way back with zero wind to sail. We can't always choose our adventure. Our adventure chooses us. Weekend Sail, N, 5-15, Chris's  28' Cape Dory sailboat.

For the Birds

I'm back at South Monomoy Island, near Shark Hole, having my lunch on a sand bar. These sand bars are so secluded and beautiful! It's a special place. Birds think so too. From a distance, at high tide, the only reason you can see the sand bars is because they are covered with birds. The birdy aroma gives my lunch a special aftertaste. Peanut butter, jelly and bird. Very unique. I knew there was a reason I kited 5 miles upwind to eat my lunch here. Follow the Tide- The tidal flow around North Monomoy is counter intuitive. The incoming tide actually splits at the new cut and can help carry you upwind to South Monomoy. It still took me about 1 1/2 hours. Hardings to North Monomoy, Kitesurfed, 10-20, SW, 14M Rally/Mako150, Solo.

Fool for Monomoy

Beautiful session today at Hardings, and last Sunday wasn't bad, and the week before that, and before that. 5 Weeks in a row with a session at Hardings! Life is good. Of course I haven't actually kited at Harding's much. I've been around North Monomy twice, up to shark hole on South Monomoy, out to the old cut and back, outside the new cut a few times, in Stage Harbor and down the channel to walk up behind the parking lot. There is no better place than Monomy for a fool that loves to explore and doesn't mind testing the fickle nature of the wind. It's just a matter of time until the wind shuts down when I'm a few miles out and tests me back. But until then the kiting here is stunningly beautiful and life is good. And lets not even talk about sharks. Johnny H defying gravity in Stage Harbor